vanity fair(名利场)-第132部分

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gentleman。　　It　never　entered　into　the　head　of　Mrs。
Crawley's　patron　that　the　little　lady　might　be　making　a
purse　for　herself；　and；　perhaps；　if　the　truth　must　be　told；
he　judged　of　Colonel　Crawley　by　his　experience　of　other
husbands；　whom　he　had　known　in　the　course　of　the　long
and　well…spent　life　which　had　made　him　acquainted　with
a　great　deal　of　the　weakness　of　mankind。　　My　lord　had
bought　so　many　men　during　his　life　that　he　was　surely
to　be　pardoned　for　supposing　that　he　had　found　the　price
of　this　one。
He　taxed　Becky　upon　the　point　on　the　very　first　occasion
when　he　met　her　alone；　and　he　complimented　her；
good…humouredly；　on　her　cleverness　in　getting　more　than
the　money　which　she　required。　　Becky　was　only　a　little
taken　aback。　　It　was　not　the　habit　of　this　dear　creature
to　tell　falsehoods；　except　when　necessity　compelled；　but
in　these　great　emergencies　it　was　her　practice　to　lie　very
freely；　and　in　an　instant　she　was　ready　with　another　neat
plausible　circumstantial　story　which　she　administered　to
her　patron。　　The　previous　statement　which　she　had　made
to　him　was　a　falsehooda　wicked　falsehoodshe
owned　it。　　But　who　had　made　her　tell　it？　〃Ah；　my　Lord；〃
she　said；　〃you　don't　know　all　I　have　to　suffer　and　bear
in　silence；　you　see　me　gay　and　happy　before　youyou
little　know　what　I　have　to　endure　when　there　is　no
protector　near　me。　　It　was　my　husband；　by　threats　and
the　most　savage　treatment；　forced　me　to　ask　for　that
sum　about　which　I　deceived　you。　　It　was　he　who；
foreseeing　that　questions　might　be　asked　regarding　the
disposal　of　the　money；　forced　me　to　account　for　it　as　I
did。　　He　took　the　money。　　He　told　me　he　had　paid　Miss
Briggs；　I　did　not　want；　I　did　not　dare　to　doubt　him。
Pardon　the　wrong　which　a　desperate　man　is　forced　to
commit；　and　pity　a　miserable；　miserable　woman。〃　She
burst　into　tears　as　she　spoke。　　Persecuted　virtue　never
looked　more　bewitchingly　wretched。
They　had　a　long　conversation；　driving　round　and　round
the　Regent's　Park　in　Mrs。　Crawley's　carriage　together；
a　conversation　of　which　it　is　not　necessary　to　repeat
the　details；　but　the　upshot　of　it　was　that；　when　Becky
came　home；　she　flew　to　her　dear　Briggs　with　a　smiling
face　and　announced　that　she　had　some　very　good　news
for　her。　　Lord　Steyne　had　acted　in　the　noblest　and　most
generous　manner。　　He　was　always　thinking　how　and　when
he　could　do　good。　　Now　that　little　Rawdon　was　gone　to
school；　a　dear　companion　and　friend　was　no　longer
necessary　to　her。　　She　was　grieved　beyond　measure　to　part
with　Briggs；　but　her　means　required　that　she　should
practise　every　retrenchment；　and　her　sorrow　was
mitigated　by　the　idea　that　her　dear　Briggs　would　be　far
better　provided　for　by　her　generous　patron　than　in　her
humble　home。　　Mrs。　Pilkington；　the　housekeeper　at　Gauntly
Hall；　was　growing　exceedingly　old；　feeble；　and　rheumatic：
she　was　not　equal　to　the　work　of　superintending
that　vast　mansion；　and　must　be　on　the　look　out　for　a
successor。　　It　was　a　splendid　position。　　The　family　did　not
go　to　Gauntly　once　in　two　years。　　At　other　times　the
housekeeper　was　the　mistress　of　the　magnificent
mansionhad　four　covers　daily　for　her　table；　was　visited　by
the　clergy　and　the　most　respectable　people　of　the　county
was　the　lady　of　Gauntly；　in　fact；　and　the　two　last
housekeepers　before　Mrs。　Pilkington　had　married　rectors
of　Gauntlybut　Mrs。　P。　　could　not；　being　the　aunt　of
the　present　Rector。　　The　place　was　not　to　be　hers　yet；
but　she　might　go　down　on　a　visit　to　Mrs。　Pilkington　and
see　whether　she　would　like　to　succeed　her。
What　words　can　paint　the　ecstatic　gratitude　of　Briggs！
All　she　stipulated　for　was　that　little　Rawdon　should　be
allowed　to　come　down　and　see　her　at　the　Hall。　　Becky
promised　thisanything。　　She　ran　up　to　her　husband　when
he　came　home　and　told　him　the　joyful　news。　　Rawdon
was　glad；　deuced　glad；　the　weight　was　off　his　conscience
about　poor　Briggs's　money。　　She　was　provided　for；　at　any
rate；　butbut　his　mind　was　disquiet。　　He　did　not　seem
to　be　all　right；　somehow。　　He　told　little　Southdown　what
Lord　Steyne　had　done；　and　the　young　man　eyed　Crawley
with　an　air　which　surprised　the　latter。
He　told　Lady　Jane　of　this　second　proof　of　Steyne's
bounty；　and　she；　too；　looked　odd　and　alarmed；　so　did
Sir　Pitt。　　〃She　is　too　clever　andand　gay　to　be　allowed
to　go　from　party　to　party　without　a　companion；〃　both
said。　　〃You　must　go　with　her；　Rawdon；　wherever　she
goes；　and　you　must　have　somebody　with　herone　of　the
girls　from　Queen's　Crawley；　perhaps；　though　they　were
rather　giddy　guardians　for　her。〃
Somebody　Becky　should　have。　　But　in　the　meantime
it　was　clear　that　honest　Briggs　must　not　lose　her　chance
of　settlement　for　life；　and　so　she　and　her　bags　were
packed；　and　she　set　off　on　her　journey。　　And　so　two　of
Rawdon's　out…sentinels　were　in　the　hands　of　the　enemy。
Sir　Pitt　went　and　expostulated　with　his　sister…in…law
upon　the　subject　of　the　dismissal　of　Briggs　and　other
matters　of　delicate　family　interest。　　In　vain　she　pointed
out　to　him　how　necessary　was　the　protection　of　Lord
Steyne　for　her　poor　husband；　how　cruel　it　would　be　on
their　part　to　deprive　Briggs　of　the　position　offered　to　her。
Cajolements；　coaxings；　smiles；　tears　could　not　satisfy　Sir
Pitt；　and　he　had　something　very　like　a　quarrel　with　his
once　admired　Becky。　　He　spoke　of　the　honour　of　the
family；　the　unsullied　reputation　of　the　Crawleys；
expressed　himself　in　indignant　tones　about　her　receiving
those　young　Frenchmenthose　wild　young　men　of　fashion；
my　Lord　Steyne　himself；　whose　carriage　was　always
at　her　door；　who　passed　hours　daily　in　her　company；
and　whose　constant　presence　made　the　world　talk　about
her。　　As　the　head　of　the　house　he　implored　her　to　be
more　prudent。　　Society　was　already　speaking　lightly　of
her。　　Lord　Steyne；　though　a　nobleman　of　the　greatest
station　and　talents；　was　a　man　whose　attentions　would
compromise　any　woman；　he　besought；　he　implored；　he
commanded　his　sister…in…law　to　be　watchful　in　her
intercourse　with　that　nobleman。
Becky　promised　anything　and　everything　Pitt　wanted；
but　Lord　Steyne　came　to　her　house　as　often　as　ever；
and　Sir　Pitt's　anger　increased。　　I　wonder　was　Lady　Jane
angry　or　pleased　that　her　husband　at　last　found　fault
with　his　favourite　Rebecca？　Lord　Steyne's　visits
continuing；　his　own　ceased；　and　his　wife　was　for　refusing
all　further　intercourse　with　that　nobleman　and　declining
the　invitation　to　the　charade…night　which　the　marchioness
sent　to　her；　but　Sir　Pitt　thought　it　was　necessary　to
accept　it；　as　his　Royal　Highness　would　be　there。
Although　he　went　to　the　party　in　question；　Sir　Pitt
quitted　it　very　early；　and　his　wife；　too；　was　very　glad
to　come　away。　　Becky　hardly　so　much　as　spoke　to　him　or
noticed　her　sister…in…law。　　Pitt　Crawley　declared　her
behaviour　was　monstrously　indecorous；　reprobated　in
strong　terms　the　habit　of　play…acting　and　fancy　dressing
as　highly　unbecoming　a　British　female；　and　after　the
charades　were　over；　took　his　brother　Rawdon　severely
to　task　for　appearing　himself　and　allowing　his　wife　to
join　in　such　improper　exhibitions。
Rawdon　said　she　should　not　join　in　any　more　such
amusementsbut　indeed；　and　perhaps　from　hints　from
his　elder　brother　and　sister；　he　had　already　become　a
very　watchful　and　exemplary　domestic　character。　　He　left
off　his　clubs　and　billiards。　　He　never　left　home。　　He　took
Becky　out　to　drive；　he　went　laboriously　with　her　to　all
her　parties。　　Whenever　my　Lord　Steyne　called；　he　was
sure　to　find　the　Colonel。　　And　when　Becky　proposed　to
go　out　without　her　husband；　or　received　invitations　for
herself；　he　peremptorily　ordered　her　to　refuse　them：　　and
there　was　that　in　the　gentleman's　manner　which　enforced
obedience。　　Little　Becky；　to　do　her　justice；　was　charmed
with　Rawdon's　gallantry。　　If　he　was　surly；　she　never　was。
Whether　friends　were　present　or　absent；　she　had　always
a　kind　smile　for　him　and　was　attentive　to　his　pleasure
and　comfort。　　It　was　the　early　days　of　their　marriage　over
again：　　the　same　good　humour；　prevenances；　merriment；
and　artless　confidence　and　regard。　　〃How　much　pleasanter
it　is；〃　she　would　say；　〃to　have　you　by　my　side　in　the
carriage　than　that　foolish　old　Briggs！　　Let　us　always　go　on
so；　dear　Rawdon。　　How　nice　it　would　be；　and　how　happy
we　should　always　be；　if　we　had　but　the　money！〃　He
fell　asleep　after　dinner　in　his　chair；　he　did　not　see　the
face　opposite　to　him；　haggard；　weary；　and　terrible；　it
lighted　up　with　fresh　candid　smiles　when　he　woke。　　It
kissed　him　gaily。　　He　wondered　that　he　had　ever　had
suspicions。　　No；　he　never　had　suspicions；　all　those　dumb
doubts　and　surly　misgivings　which　had　been　gathering　on
his　mind　were　mere　idle　jealousies。　　She　was　fond　of　him；
she　always　had　been。　　As　for　her　shining　in　society；　it
was　no　fault　of　hers；　she　was　formed　to　shine　there。
Was　there　any　woman　who　could　talk；　or　sing；　or　do
anything　like　her？　If　she　would　but　like　the　boy！
Rawdon　thought。　　But　the　mother　and　son　never　could　be
brought　together。
And　it　was　while　Rawdon's　mind　was　agitated　with
these　doubts　and　perplexities　that　the　incident　occurred
which　was　mentioned　in　the　last　chapter；　and　the
unfortunate　Colonel　found　himself　a　prisoner　away　from
home。

CHAPTER　LIII

Friend　Rawdon　drove　on　then　to　Mr。　Moss's　mansion
in　Cursitor　Street；　and　was　duly　inducted　into　that
dismal　place　of　hospitality。　　Morning　was　breaking
over　the　cheerful　house…tops　of　Chancery　Lane　as　the
rattling　cab　woke　up　the　echoes　there。　　A　little
pink…eyed　Jew…boy；　with　a　head　as　ruddy　as　the　rising
morn；　let　the　party　into　the　house；　and　Rawdon　was
welcomed　to　the　ground…floor　apartments　by　Mr。　Moss；　his
travelling　companion　and　host；　who　cheerfully　asked　him
if　he　would　like　a　glass　of　something　warm　after　his　drive。
The　Colonel　was　not　so　depressed　as　some　mortals
would　be；　who；　quitting　a　palace　and　a　placens　uxor；
find　themselves　barred　into　a　spunging…house；　for；　if　the
truth　must　be　told；　he　had　been　a　lodger　at　Mr。　Moss's
establishment　once　or　twice　before。　　We　have　not　thought
it　necessary　in　the　previous　course　of　this　narrative　to
mention　these　trivial　little　domestic　incidents：　　but　the
reader　may　be　assured　that　they　can't　unfrequently　occur
in　the　life　of　a　man　who　lives　on　nothing　a　year。
Upon　his